Little Falls transcript., 1887-06-17
Changes in Western Climate,

when came here in 1872" sal
President David B. Perry of Deane
college, Crete, Neb., to q correspond
ent recently, "many people We're in
credulous OF the growth OF this state.
The atmosphere was excessively dry
and it was doubtful whether corn or
tame grass or .fruittrees would grow,
The sod was tough and stubborn, and
shed the little rain that fell quickly.
We had interminable wind storms.
It would blow, blow, blow, day after
day, till the din was unbearable. I
have seen people fairly worn out with
the ln&essant, strenuous, wearisome
blasts that SO relentlessly kept whirl
and racket about them. And there
used to come, in summer, occasional
hot blasts from the south that would
wilt our grain, especially our corn.
But there has come a most remarka-
bic change. The atmosphere is not
nearly so dry. Ladies have to guard
within doors, against mildew occa-
stoned by dampness much as they do
at the east. Wehave much more rain,
and it is much more evenly distributed
over the year than it used to be. We
have fewer and fewer wind storms,
and the heated winds that did such
mischief do not trouble us at all. See
for yourself the crops we raise! Look
at that corn-feld. There are 200 solid
acres as fine as any in the world"
''Well, but what has induced so great
a change? Are you sure it is perma-
nent?" II am sure it is permanent
because I know what has caused it.
Hundred of thousands OF acres, year
after year, were plowed up and the
soil rendered porous. You know we
are the great soldier state. There was
a vast army of men at the close ofthe
war, who went home to find their old
places occupied and their occupation
gone. They came out here. They put in
their homestead and timber claims for
government land and went vigorously
to work at farming. The people at
Beatrice have Grand Army reunion
shortly and they count on 10000 OF
the boys being there. Such wide
spread tillage Of wholly new land has
prepared the surface soil to receive
and retain moisture The corn itself.
by its shade, prevents rapid eyapora-
ton. So do our countless groves.
Arbor day is a great institution out
here, as you can anywhere and every
where see."
"And you think the moisture in the
earth increases the rain-fall?" "Most
certainly. The influence of the
clouds and soil becomes reciprocal"
"BuU what should effect the winds
SO remarkably" "This same circum-
stance of a. more moist atmosphere.
The air is heavier, less volatile. Be-
sides the groves are very important in
their influence in breaking the force OF
the wind. 1t cannot now sweep across
thest as if it were sheet OF water.
The groves constantly interrupt and
break it's force"
'It seems almost incredible that sc
radical a change should have occurred
so soon.' eyes, I would not believe
it if had not seen it and felt it. You
can judge for yourself whether we are
troubled to raise crops. Wehave had
tive successive years of them. Last
year the railroads themselves were
dismayed at the corn to be moved.
Away out, $50 miles to the west of
here, in Phelps county and Casper, ,and
Lincoln, the cultivation is going on
SO it is north Of the Platte, and also
south Of us in Kansas"